4.5 Stars in Golf Digest. One of the top-50 courses in the USA in Golf Magazine. Host of the Illinois State Championship on several occasions.

The numbers speak for themselves. In spite of being "just" a municipal park district course, this is a championship quality golf course at a bargain price.

The course was build in 1991 with a grant from Margaret and Norris Aldeen, CEO of the then-local Amerock hardware company. Norris was one of many successful Swedish-American entrepreneurs in Rockford, and he wanted to give back to the community by constructing a high quality golf club for the people of Rockford. Golf architect Dick Nugent was called upon, and he delivered a true gem. The result is a championship golf course and a first class club house, giving visitor a true "Country Club" experience. Don't miss it if you're in Rockford. Or Chicago for that matter, it's only an hour away.

Photo: Bo SjostenThe clubhouse at Aldeen is full service, with a well-stocked pro shop and nice restaurant.

18 hole course

There's a lot of water in play at Aldeen.

Already on the first hole, a nice par five, your second shot is over Keith Creek. During the first nine you will cross the creek no fewer than six times, so proper strategy in placing your shots is necessary. Two more of the holes that don't cross Keith Creek on the front nine still have water in play, leaving only hole seven for those of us that are afraid of water. Two holes are particularly memorable, both par threes. At hole five you are back at the central lake in front of the clubhouse, hitting over the lake to a big but shallow green. A very nice hole.

Hole eight, another par three, might be the signature hole. Keith Creek widens a bit into a pond, and the eight green is on an island in that pond. The green is big, and there's a bit of extra room around it for errant shots, but still, hitting to an island often rattles your nerves. If you do find the green, you will cross over a replica of the Swilcan Bridge from the Old Course on your way to putt. A beautiful, worthy signature hole.

The back nine is a little bit more straightforward, but water is still in play on five of the holes. The finishing hole, a par five running next to the big central lake, is the highlight. You have to have an accurate tee shot to score on this hole, with a fairly narrow fairway bordered by trees on the right and water on the left.

A mentioned before, proper strategy is essential at Aldeen. You need to play this course more than once to figure it out. And that's a good thing, because it is a beautiful course that you'll want to come back to time and again.